The Dutch rail infrastructure manager, ProRail, has for the first time used circular rail tracks, sustainably manufactured from recycled steel recovered from old rails.
These tracks have been installed during the modernisation of a 30 km section in the north of the Netherlands, between Hoofddorp and Leiden.
This marks a significant milestone in the greening of rail infrastructure and is a national first for the Netherlands.
Rail tracks are typically produced in coal-fired blast furnaces, which generate high levels of CO₂ emissions. By using electric arc furnaces and recycled scrap metal, emissions from the production process can be reduced by up to 65%. This makes a substantial contribution to ProRail’s goal of reducing total CO₂ emissions by 55% by 2030, compared to 2015 levels. The circular rail tracks meet all current quality standards.
“With these circular rail tracks, we are taking a major step towards a climate-neutral railway infrastructure. Together with the sector, we aim to build a future-proof and sustainable rail network,” said Janneke Vogels, Director of Sustainability at ProRail.
The environmentally friendly circular rails were manufactured by the French steel company Saarstahl and supplied by voestalpine Track Solutions Netherlands, a subsidiary of voestalpine Railway Systems, which operates a dedicated recycling facility in Hilversum. Used railway materials are collected and processed there into high-quality products.
The production of these circular rail tracks is the result of an innovative collaboration between ProRail, railway contractors, and industry partners.
By returning used rails to the steel manufacturer rather than discarding them, a new circular supply chain has been established, one that requires adjustments to existing working methods and logistical processes.
The installation in the north of the country is the first of several pilot projects ProRail will carry out this year. In the autumn, the company will begin drafting guidelines for the structural use of circular rail tracks in procurement and maintenance contracts. The aim is to significantly increase the share of sustainably produced steel within the rail sector. However, the speed at which this goal can be realised also depends on developments within the steel industry, such as the availability of high-quality scrap. Achieving this will require a strong and coordinated effort with industry stakeholders.
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